Audiences have long pit contemporaries Tom Holland and Timothée Chalamet in a competition, where comparisons on who’s the bigger box-office draw and the better actor have always made rounds across the internet.
Although unintended on their part, it’s not a recent phenomenon for Hollywood superstars. The so-called star-power race and its unbridled force usually warrant these differentiations.
Chalamet has become one of the most renowned box office magnets in recent years with his diversified roles and back-to-back hits. The 28-year-old actor even broke a record previously held by John Travolta for four decades! He’s being touted as the new-age box office king, which shouldn’t be surprising.
On the other hand, Holland reigned supreme within the bounds of the MCU, but outside of it… not as much. Despite considerable acting chops, he has struggled to replicate the success he found in his superhero stint.
With the news of a Popeye the Sailor Man live-action film, currently in development, creating buzz as a big-budget feature, could Holland snag the leading role of the iconic IP and gain a much-required edge over Chalamet?
Popeye Live-Action Movie Is In Development: Could Tom Holland Be Its Star?
As per Variety, the development of a live-action movie based on the enduringly popular fictional cartoon character Popeye, who first appeared in the 1929 comic strip Thimble Theatre, is underway. It is being billed as a big-budget endeavor from Chernin Entertainment and King Features, with screenwriter Michael Caleo associated with it.
The previous attempt to get a live-action adaptation made of the wisecracking spinach-eating sailor resulted in Robin Williams‘ 1980 musical comedy, aptly named Popeye. Upon its release, the project was met with a lackluster reception. However, it was soon subjected to a critical reassessment as improved reviews started pouring in. The film was a box-office draw, nevertheless.
Against a budget of $20 million, the Williams starrer amassed a domestic gross of $49 million (via Box Office Mojo).
As the recently announced remake is still in its infancy, no details are available on the star most likely to take on the leading role. Playing the sailor on-screen could prove tricky, given the physical characteristics that set him apart. Previously, fan-made trailers always envisioned Dwayne Johnson for the role, a choice that divided online users.
With Robin Williams’ live-action Popeye irreplaceable to some, being endowed with the mantle would be quite a responsibility to live up to. While Tom Holland may sound to some an unconventional pick for the part, his acting chops make him a viable contender.
Besides, portraying the character’s physicality will definitely require some transformational movie magic, which is not challenging to pull off nowadays. Additionally, we have witnessed performers thought to have been controversial choices for a given role, only for those same actors to have executed their roles with panache.
Even Timothée Chalamet‘s Wonka was initially given a similar treatment, and we can see how that worked out.
Nevertheless, it’s merely a ‘what-if’ at the moment, and whether or not Holland himself would find it ideal to vie for the role remains a knowledge we wouldn’t be privy to—unless and until officially announced. But if he were to sign up for the part, it’d give him a potential edge over fellow contemporary Chalamet.
It all boils down to the IP’s popularity (which Popeye has), the execution (which remains to be seen), and, of course, the story.
Timothée Chalamet’s Back-To-Back Hits Have Given Him The Stature Of A Box-Office King
Chalamet recently shattered a long-standing record by leading the two back-to-back top-grossing films in eight months with Wonka and Dune: Part Two. Previously held by John Travolta, this achievement raises some intriguing implications (via IndieWire).
This unparalleled box office draw has reportedly given the studios hope that they’re looking at a new-gen celebrity whose star power could compare to that of Tom Cruise or Leonardo DiCaprio.
Some online users believe that Chalamet’s newfound stature has more to do with his ability to select lucrative roles than his box-office appeal. Something that Tom Holland seems to have struggled with. The latter’s pull as Spider-Man is undeniable, but he has yet to prove a leading man who could rake in commercial and critical profits outside of it.
But the tides can turn in anyone’s favor. And Holland’s acting proficiency could take him to heights that were previously unimaginable. It’s all about banking in on the right project—a skill Chalamet has mastered.
Could starring in a Popeye live-action film guarantee the Uncharted star that opportunity? That nobody can predict. However, a big-budget feature with such a longstanding IP could prove profitable, provided it adapts diligently while adhering to the principles that make a ‘good’ movie over a money-grabbing gimmick.
Timothée Chalamet’s Dune: Part Two is out in theatres. You can stream Tom Holland’s first two installments in the MCU Spider-Man trilogy on Disney+.
